A blog dedicated to the discussion of topics relating to the history of Sandusky and Erie County, Ohio; inspired by the collections of the Sandusky Library Archives Research Center and Follett House Museum. A service of the Sandusky Library.

Saturday, October 19, 2013

German celebration in Sandusky, 1883

On Sunday, October 7, 1883, Sandusky residents
celebrated the bicentennial anniversary of the first permanent German
settlement in the United States. Accounts of the gala event were featured in
the October 8, 1883 issue of the Sandusky
Register and the October 8, 1883 issue of the Sandusky Demokrat.

Adam Bauer was the president of the day, while
Constantine Zipfel served as the Marshall. They were assisted by M. Osterman,
William Koch, John Weideman and Alex Motry. Over one thousand people took part
in the procession, which started at West Market Street, and ended at the Erie
County Fairgrounds. The Great Western Band provided music for the parade.

All the German societies of Sandusky were
represented, including the Active Turn Verein, pioneer German citizens, the
Harmonie and Frohsinn Societies, Workingmen’s Association, German Knights of
Labor, Cigar Makers’ Union, the Platte Deutsch Verein, Union Benevolent
Society, Odd Fellows, Druids, along with delegations from local factories and
fire departments. A large delegation of German Americans from Kelleys Island,
Middle Bass Island, and Put in Bay also participated in the procession.
Gottlieb Epple led a cavalry troop of one hundred men. Thousands of area
residents lined the streets along the parade route. After arriving at the Erie
County Fair Grounds, the Great Western Band played an overture, and Dr. Von
Schulenburg spoke about the mission of the German element in America. Herman
Ruess gave an elegant address. Gymnastic exercises were performed by both the
Active and Social Turnverein. According to the Sandusky Demokrat, the German celebration was “the most imposing
demonstration ever witnessed in Erie County.”